Baltimore--Site of DHI's 26th Annual Convention and Exposition.

EVERY YEAR, DHI CHOOSES A NEW SITE FOR ITS Annual Convention and Exposition. Most of the time, we travel long distances to find settings that not only are brimming with useful facilities (convention centers, hotels, airport services, etc.), but that also have much to offer in the way of recreational activities and interesting things to see. This year, DHI is staying close to home, and yet we will still have the benefit of both a host of modern accommodations and a plethora of activities to keep everybody satisfied. This year, we're going to Baltimore!

Baltimore, Maryland is a fascinating city of paradoxes. History and modernity mix together, offering a unique combination of the old and the new. This is the place where Frances Scott Key became inspired to write "The Star Spangled Banner," and it is also the home of the newly formed, world champion football team, the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore boasts beautiful harborfronts and original cobblestoned streets, yet it also offers an extraordinary number of contemporary shops and restaurants. It gives the feel of a small town, with its richness and texture, and yet the city is a booming metropolis of business and technology. Attendees will have a difficult time fitting into their free time everything they want to see and do.

Home to one of the largest ports on the East Coast, Baltimore's biggest attraction is the Inner Harbor. Visitors can enjoy shopping, dining or simply strolling along the waterfront promenade. Get an incredible view of the city from the top of the World Trade Center, or explore the mysteries of underwater life at the world renowned National Aquarium. Tour the U.S.S. Constellation, the oldest U.S. warship continuously afloat, or check out Harborplace, a shopping center of two enclosed pavilions with more than 140 shops and eateries.

Not far from the Inner Harbor are several charming, historic communities. Go back in time to Fells Point, where you'll find cobblestoned streets and mariners pubs that offer incredible Chesapeake cuisine. Little Italy boasts not just pasta, but also the Star Spangled Banner Flag House, where Mary Pickersgill stitched the enormous flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the British attack. Federal Hill contains the Marketplace, with antique and specialty shops giving way to award-winning restaurants, live entertainment, and the state's oldest brewpub, not to mention gorgeous views of the Inner Harbor.

And if the land doesn't have enough to offer, try the water. Luncheon cruises on the Chesapeake Bay are a favorite. Or take a water taxi from one point of interest to the next, just to experience the flavor of living on the sea.

As if there weren't enough to do in Baltimore itself, don't forget that Washington, DC is less than an hour away. The nation's Capital holds enough memorials and museums to keep even the pickiest sightseer busy for days. In north Baltimore, the cultural city of Mount Vernon beckons those who want to experience the arts, and to the west, the B & O Railroad Museum will interest both young and old. Also, it only takes a few minutes to find yourself in the quaint neighborhoods that surround the city, with their diversity and ethnic charm. Wherever you look, there's something to see.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves! We're heading to Baltimore for DHI's 26TH Annual Convention and Exposition. This is business, after all, and we need to remember the practical aspects of being in such a busy place. One of the good things about Baltimore is how ideally situated it is, with the Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) only 10 miles from the city center. BWI is a hub for Southwest Airlines, one of DHI's official carriers. (The other official carrier is US Air.) If you live nearby, you could easily drive to the convention, as is only 35 miles from Washington, DC, 100 miles from Philadelphia, and 185 miles from New York. The city is also served by Amtrak, which is located at Pennsylvania Station, five minutes north of downtown. All of the convention hotels are within easy walking distance of the Convention Center and the Inner Harbor.

Autumn will be in full swing during the Convention, which is slated for October 6-8. This is a great time to be on the East Coast, since it won't be too hot to enjoy the myriad things to do outdoors. The temperature should stay around the mid-70s, dropping into the 50s at night. Bring a jacket, because it will probably get cool in the evenings, but don't forget to pack some short-sleeved shirts for your daytime outings.

Columbus Day falls on October 8, so we're going to be in Baltimore during a holiday weekend. That means there will be that many more fun things going on in the city, as residents and merchants decide to do special things to celebrate. Wait a minute, though! We're here for the only convention of the architectural openings industry--the best place you could possibly go to show off what you've got to others in the industry and see what they have to offer as well--the only place where you can get this much information about your industry at onetime. It looks like the biggest challenge you're going to have in Baltimore is balancing work and play!